4 Tips on How to Stop Overthinking and KISS!
For those of you out there who are like me and overthink just about everything, there is a solution. I have no doubt you have heard of the KISS principle. Most of us know it stands for: Keep It Simple Stupid. In fact, the letters KISS do have a number of other meanings such as: Keep It Short and Simple or Keep It Smart and Simple.
Why do we overthink things? David A Clark puts it best: he uses the term “overthink” to refer to an excessive tendency to monitor, evaluate, and attempt to control all types of thought. Overthinkers are not only highly aware of their thoughts, but they also spend a lot of time trying to understand the causes and meaning of their thoughts.
So, it’s almost being like in a causal loop.
Or, in my case, how more times do I have to refine this report until I am happy with it? How many more times do I have to review my draft letter, blog, email etc.
At the heart of KISS is spending the time to simplify the complicated in order to get ahead.
Whenever, I get bogged down and start to regret compiling a particular document it’s because I haven’t planned it out first. I haven’t taken into account what format I will use and what criteria it will contain. It’s at this point I remember to invoke KISS.
Most of the time I use KISS to help me draft a whole range of documents and reports. My KISS principle in this instance is based around being creative. If I’m not bored in preparing the document, then my reader will not be bored either. So, these are my 4 tips:
- Produce your document in a different format.
- As yourself: “Will one page actually do the trick?”
- Draw up a mindmap.
- Find a suitable template!
A document in a different format
This is a technique I picked up from watching Japanese and Korean dramas. Reports and proposals are often shown encapsulated within a presentation e.g. PowerPoint or Keynote.
This in itself makes you keep your document focused and to the point. It works.
Note: This template can also be used for the one page solution, as explained in the next section.
The one page solution
I am sure many of you have been told at work that any document more than a page in length put forward for consideration will be glossed over or even dismissed.
I learn’t very early on this was true.
In essence, what you prepare is a summary that contains the critical information using the following outline:
- Title
- Proposal Owner
- Objective
- One sentence that describes the solution
- Timeframe
- Key milestones or touch points
- Scope
- Two to three sentences outlining how the project will be conducted, the SWOT, other factors.
- Link to Corporate Plan
- This could be the strategic plan, corporate business plan, other plan
- Resources/Financial Impact
- What key resources are required to deliver the project
- KPIs
- What are the measures of success?
- Risks
- Outline the two or three key risks
- Approval
How you set out that one page is up to you, but it must make sense to the reader. After all, aren’t one page websites now a thing?
Using a mindmap
A mindmap will help you plan all the elements required for your document. It then acts as a checklist to help make sure you have captured all the necessary information.
Find a template
I am sure many of you do this. There are a number of good resources out there online that have just the “right” template you are looking for.
Templates save on planning out the document and provide good insights on the type of information each section requires.
Templates do not have to be followed as set out. You can modify them to suit you or even just use some of the content.
A final word
Linda often says this to me: your draft is better than most people’s final version. Such a comment always brings me back down to Earth and keeps me grounded. It reminds me that enough is enough and my document is ready to go.
So, what do you overthink?
strategic teams 
My step father was a big proponent of K.I.S.S. Sean!
As always good points 👏👏👏👏👏
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Thank you for your comments and feedback, Cindy. Your step father sounds like he was a wise man 😊
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totally is!!! ❤️💖
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I tend to overthinking a lot. Everything from my writing to even simple presentations often have their multiple options raked through with a fine-toothed comb. Maybe I just need to trust myself more. Thanks for this post!
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Thank you for your comments, Stuart. Yes, it is about trusting ourselves more and letting go.
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This works for blogs as well. Mine usually run tooooo long, but then, I am not in it for the money, so if someone decides not to read it, I’ll live. 🤠
I try to make the most salient point right at the start. I find it insulting when news headlines say, “You’ll never guess what he did last week!” Especially if they don’t tell you in the first paragraph who HE is or WHAT he did, intending to make you read the entire article to get to the point.
Obviously, this should never be a technique used for business proposals or papers, but you’d be surprised. 🙄
Much better, “President Biden signed executive order on Border Wall last week.” With that headline, I know whether or not I want to read the details.
Put what most needs to be known first.
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Absolutely! It is a real art form in itself crafting that headline or introductory sentence or paragraph that will get the reader’s attention. As far as blogs go and their length, I am in the camp that quite enjoys a long read or post. The great copywriter Drayton Bird has proved time and time again that the most value is: first get the headline right, then have long, meaningful copy.
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My hubby says I’m a perfectionist, when he sees me work. So, yes, I certainly can use these ideas! ❤️🦋🌀😉
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Hello Sheila, I am glad these ideas are useful for you. We perfectionist’s make the world go round 😂 I think about how I can simplify things every day. I have written so many reports, policies and procedures in the last month, KISS was my daily mantra regarding these documents!
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Beautiful! As a writer, I’ve often heard it’s hard to “kill our babies,” as in editing our articles and manuscripts.
I love step by step “destructions.” Haha!
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Lol 😂 Sometimes, a cup of tea helps too – it acts like a circuit breaker. So, once I have finished my tea of choice, I can rework my “baby.”
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Beautiful observation! And I put my hands together to Connect the circuits! ❤️🦋🌀🤦👏😂
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I love the KISS principle. First time hearing about it! Keep it simple stupid. Haha. 🙂
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I am glad you love it! Thank you for dropping by 😊
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Our CEO is like that, he doesn’t entertain anything more than 2 pages (if he’s being generous). He prefers single-page minutes of meetings, proposals, teasers… sometimes, there’s too much info and it’s hard to squeeze into a page 😀
I’d take her word for that!
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Thank you, Janis 😊
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That’s an interesting technique you gleaned from Japanese and Korean shows! I can see how it would help engage more of the creator’s brain as well as the audience.
And I like thinking about KISS as “Keep It Smart and Simple” much better. It’s a more positive approach than basically insulting yourself in your affirmation. Plus, you do still want your work to be smart and not just simple! 😄
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Hello Ceri, I did start writing a response to you a little while ago, but it got lost somewhere! As for the acronym, I agree with you: Keep it Smart and Simple. With the presentation style reports, it does allow you to have more fun. There are some great templates out there. One report I have had success with this approach is when I developed a COVID Framework last year for a client of mine based on a presentation template. It has also made easy to update the framework when we need to.
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Great post! A cause of overthinking could also be ‘perfectionism’ and even deeper the fear of not being good enough. Root Cause analysis and Keep It Simple are great methods to reach goals.
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That was me, Patty – a perfectionist. I used to drive myself absolutely bonkers. Thank you for your supportive comments and yes to Root Cause Analysis too. I have a nice little worksheet for that one.
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
KEEP IT SIMPLE SON!
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Great thinking
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Thank you for your comments, much appreciated!
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welcom
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Love your mind map–so cute and so descriptive. I am an over-thinker and over-worrier. And often I not only worry about the present and future, but also about the past–nostalgia doesn’t live me alone. So it is very important not to overthink. LOL.
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Thank you for your most welcome comments. I have to remind myself of KISS (and not overthink all the time), which does work.
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